Question Number: 19550

Character, Attitude and Control 7/2/2008

RE: Comp Under 15

George of Concord, NC US asks...

In a U14 girls game last year, I was involved w/ a game in which a coach delibertly ignored multiple warnings to back off the line, to allow me (serving as AR1) to have a good view of the line. To contribute to his failure to respect the warnings, he also was abusive to the youth referee and on one occasion entered the field of play (about 10 yards) to argue a call.

Although, the youth referee was abeit shy to administrate punishment, I advised him to send off the coach for failure to respect the technical area.

Is there any methods or advise you can give us, to curb this type of misbehavior.

Note: I've been a referee for 12 years and had to only send off 1 coach, 4 players, and 0 spectators (so needless to say, I have a high threshold for abusive tendendacies that occur in such a passionate game as the one we all love.)

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ah, coaches and their behavior. Twelve years as referee and an admitted high threshold for abuse... The coach knows this and is working you unless he is new to the game and is seeing you for the first time.

How can we unteach what you and other tolerant referees have taught coaches in the past twelve years? We do what was found necessary in the American professional leagues this year, we discipline members of the technical staff. When any of the following happen the person is expelled.

1. Leaves the technical area to argue a point

2. Throws a clipboard or a chair

3. Kicks an object in the technical area

4. Uses offensive, abusive insulting language and or gestures

5. Enters the field without permission

6. Touches the referee or assistant in a manner unacceptable to that referee or assistant

7. Continues a specific behavior after being warned not to do so.

So, there you have it -- the referee[s] in your area MUST put a lid on the technical area behavior. This is going to be hard because it involves removing the thick skin from some referees, you included. Once you start requiring acceptable behavior in the technical area you must have a league willing to support its referees with bans severe enough to get the message across. For example: multiple games and the practice sessions within those bans. Some coach driven clubs will not do this so at that point finding some place else to work is the only option available to you if you want peace.

Bottom line, those referees with a high level of tolerance regarding abuse are the problem. Once coaches become used to them new guys, youth referees, will be intimidated into quitting or become thick skinned themselves. This is bad. How you can tell if this is happening is look at attrition in the referee population over the past twelve years. Is the number of referees constant? How many new referees are trained each year? Does this number added to the referee population increase it or does it decrease? If there is a decrease or it remains the same then there is some problem with referee retention. Could it be abuse from the touchlines, players or insufficient compensation for work accomplished?

Now the big question: are you going to be part of the solution or part of the problem? Look at little league baseball, do you want the Beautiful Game to be like that?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The coach cannot be permitted to act like that and not face a disciplinary sanction. If nothing is done to correct the failure then nothing can be done to support the young referee and prevent him from quitting as he sees no consequences for those who abuse him. Passion and reasonable dissent still must pass the acceptable level of an emotional outburst of disappointment not an abusive torrent.

Even though the referee did not take action a letter could be sent informing the coach he is on probation and if further acts of aggression towards officials is noted he can expect further action taken. Most coaches will blame the official for THEIR behaviour it must be pointed out there are OTHER methods to engage and effect training mentoring and re-certification with officials then scream fests on the touchline. Record, report, monitor and do something about things that create problems do not ignore them because your skin is thicker than others.

A league must instill codes of conduct and communicate in preseason meetings that SPECIFICALLY lay out the responsibilities and the consequences if the responsibilities are not met. Coaches as well as referees who have trouble staying calm or managing a match effectively both sides require ongoing monitoring support and training. It is imperative that both sides are on the same side (the kids) but they must agree to disagree and MOVE on not confrontational behavior cannot go unchallenged or ignored!
Above my colleague Ref Fleischer listed 7 points a good start. Hold a meeting for the parents, players, coaches and the referees to set the standards as well as COMMUNICATE with each other perceived issues or problems be it behavior by the coaches which upsets the officials or foul recognition by the officials which upsets the coaches. TALK communicate explain BUT take ACTION!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Every time a coach is allowed to be abusive with no consequences it makes it worse for everyone. The coach you describe is nothing more than a thug and bully. You were only the AR so you couldn't force the young center referee to act but you could have had some stern words for the coach. Unfortunately, this bully will continue to intimidate referees until one of you steps up to the plate. At the very least, you should have written a letter to your referee assignor and the local DOC if not to the League Board also.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 20095